Dock structure

Abstract

A readily assemblable and collapsible floating or standing dock is constructed of a plurality of transversely-extending elongate aluminum deck forming members releasably connected, through a simple interlocking fastening arrangement, to parallel elongate aluminum side rail members provided at each longitudinal side of the dock. Aluminum end rails are releasably interconnected between the side rail members to provide a rigid frame structure. An aluminum bumper rail extends along each longitudinal side of the dock with portions overlying the ends of the deck-forming members and portions releasably connected to the elongate aluminum side rail members.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A dock structure, comprising: a pair of laterally spaced-apart substantially-parallel longitudinally-extending aluminum side rails;   a plurality of deck-forming aluminum members contacting and extending between said pair of side rails generally transverse thereto in spaced apart relation,   each of said plurality of deck-forming members having at least one planar portion cooperating with the at least one planar portion of the others of said plurality of deck-forming members to provide a planar top surface which extends substantially the length of the side rails;   snap fit means releasably interconnecting said side rails with each of said plurality of deck-forming members at the intersections thereof,   at each said intersection, said snap fit means including a first part integral with said side rail and a second cooperating part integral with said deck-forming member;   stop means located at each said intersection and preventing movement of each of said plurality of deck-forming members longitudinally thereof and transverse to said side rails while normally permitting movement of said pluralaity of deck-forming members out of contact with said side rails upon release of said snap fit means to allow disassembly of said dock structure,   said stop means at each said intersection including cooperating elements integral with said side rail and integral with said deck-forming member; and   a pair of aluminum bumper rails extending along each longitudinal side of the dock externally of said side rails and releasably connected thereto.   
     
     
       2. The dock structure of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of deck-forming members includes a wholly planar portion spaced from said side rails at said intersections and spacer means depending from said planar portion into engagement with said side rails at said intersection. 
     
     
       3. The dock structure of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of deck-forming members further includes first and second skirt members depending one from adjacent each lateral extremity of said planar portion, and said spacer means comprises a pair of webs depending from said planar portion parallel to each other and to said skirt members. 
     
     
       4. The dock structure of claim 3, including at least one vertical slot formed in each said web at each said intersection to constitute said cooperating element of said stop means integral with said deck-forming member and for receiving a protrusion integral with said side rails and constituting said cooperating element integral with said side rail. 
     
     
       5. The dock structure of claim 4, wherein said snap fit means comprises at least one continuous elongate protrusion extending from the side rail and in the direction of extension thereof, said continuous elongate protrusion including shoulders projecting in opposite directions generally parallel to and spaced from the adjacent surface of the side rail to define an undercut therewith and a generally central portion constituting said received protrusion and said snap fit means further including undercut-engaging members formed on each of said deck-forming members constructed to snap fit into said undercuts. 
     
     
       6. The dock structure of claim 1 including a pair of laterally spaced-apart longitudinally-extending aluminum end rails extending between and releasably connected to the side rails, said end rails and said side rails defining a substantially rigid rectangular frame structure. 
     
     
       7. The dock structure of claim 6, wherein said bumper rails and said end rails have bumper bars secured thereto around the periphery of the frame structure. 
     
     
       8. The dock structure of claim 6, wherein each of said side rails includes a vertically-extending web having an integrally-formed horizontally-extending member provided at the upper end thereof extending away from said frame structure and each of said end rails is of generally flat-based C-shaped cross-section opening inwardly of the frame structure. 
     
     
       9. The dock structure of claim 8, wherein each of said side rails further includes a first upwardly-opening channel member integrally formed at the end of said horizontally-extending member and a generally L-shaped cross-sectioned projection spaced vertically downwardly from said horizontally-extending member and defining with the web a second upwardly-opening channel, and each of said bumper rails includes a pair of downwardly-depending projections received one in each of said upwardly-opening channels to constitute said releasable connection between said side rails and said bumper rails. 
     
     
       10. The dock structure of claim 9, including means for temporarily preventing separation of said side rails and bumper rails. 
     
     
       11. The dock structure of claim 9, wherein each of said bumper rails includes a vertically-extending web having an integrally-formed horizontally-extending member provided at the lower end thereof extending towards the adjacent side rail and a first depending skirt member extending into said second upwardly-opening channel as said depending projection received therein, and a generally L-shaped cross-section projection spaced vertically upwardly from said last-mentioned horizontally-extending member and defining with said web a downwardly-opening channel interengaging with said first upwardly-opening channel and including said depending projection received therein. 
     
     
       12. The dock structure of claim 11, wherein each of said bumper rails also includes a second integrally-formed horizontally-extending member provided at the upper end of said web extending towards the adjacent side rail and overlapping the ends of said deck-forming members. 
     
     
       13. The dock structure of claim 12, wherein each of said bumper rails also includes integrally-formed third and fourth horizontally-extending members provided at the upper and lower ends of said web and extending away from the adjacent side rails and a generally rectangularly cross-sectioned elongate bumper bar engaging the web and the inner surface of the third and fourth horizontally-extending members and secured to the bumper rail. 
     
     
       14. The dock structure of claim 12, wherein each of said side rails includes a second horizontally-extending member at the lower end of said web and including at least one float member secured to said webs of said side rail members and in engagement with said last-mentioned second horizontally-extending member. 
     
     
       15. The dock structure of claim 6, wherein said frame structure also includes at least one additional aluminum lateral rail member extending between the side rails and releasably secured thereto. 
     
     
       16. The dock structure of claim 15, wherein said frame structure also includes at least one additional aluminum longitudinal rail member extending between the end rails and said at least one additional lateral member and secured thereto.